About Bill Rodgers

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Hourly restaurant workers can now get certified by the National Restaurant Association in a program aimed at helping them move up the career ladder. Read more about the Association’s ServSuccess progam here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/topics/restaurant-association-launches-program-keep-employees-industry Start with a food truck or locate in a mall food court – two of five […]

A survey of restaurant consumers finds they are becoming increasingly concerned over finances, with 49 percent saying they plan to re-allocate their spending to purchases other than going out to eat. Read more here about the 2019 US Restaurant Outlook Survey: https://www.consulting.us/news/2215/labor-issues-financial-unease-top-restaurant-industry-concerns-in-2019 BBQ chain, Famous Dave, has opened its first […]

As Kona Grill prepares to file for bankruptcy, its problems are not unique – many chains find themselves in dire straits after overaggressive growth. Read more here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/kona-grill-its-former-ceo-go-war A new study says the big rise in California’s minimum wage is hurting the restaurant industry in the state, especially smaller, […]

Where’s the beef? Burger King tests a flame-grilled, plant-based patty at eateries in the St. Louis area, with plans to later offer it nationwide. The no-beef item is being called the Impossible Whopper! Read more here: https://www.apnews.com/Business%20Wire/4b11f2f3db6f4747901ef35792c95779 Survey shows Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse are tops in customer satisfaction […]

Chipotle has launched a new customer loyalty program, part of a comeback strategy for the Mexican grill chain. Read more here: https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/chipotle-launches-new-loyalty-program Struggling restaurant chains are becoming more attractive to investors betting on a brand turnaround. Example: the Rego Restaurant Group which last year bought Quiznos and Taco Del […]

Wendy’s works with NexGen Consortium to advance sustainable packaging solutions to replace single-use packaging waste. Read more here: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/wendys-looks-advance-sustainable-packaging Papa John’s has teamed up with Purdue University Global to offer free tuition to employees who sign up for the online degree program. The pizza chain employees can pursue degrees […]

Thirteen mega-companies control dozens of popular chains, including Burger King, Taco Bell and Olive Garden. Read more here: https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-control-the-restaurant-industry-2019-1 Delivery-Only restaurants are surging because of low overhead costs when starting this kind of eatery business. Read more here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanabandoim/2019/01/28/how-ghost-restaurants-are-changing-the-restaurant-business-model/#54e46a7f41d7 The wave of baby boomer retirements is affecting the restaurant […]

Latest federal jobs report says the restaurant industry added almost 41,000 jobs last month, bringing the number hired in 2018 to more than 235,000. Read more here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/restaurants-added-41000-jobs-last-month Carl’s Jr. offers non-meat burger at 1100 of its eateries, an experiment that will last through the end of this month. […]

Despite discounted offers, such as Burger King’s 10-piece chicken nugget deal for $1, prices for fast food chain menu items are on the rise. Read more here: https://www.today.com/food/despite-1-deals-fast-food-getting-pricier-here-s-why-t144520 For the sixth straight month, same-store sales at chain restaurants rose 1% in November. But while same-store takeout sales are up […]

Rise of on-line shopping is hurting foot traffic in malls – the location where many traditional bar and grill chains emerged in the 1980’s & 90’s. Now, these chains are closing their doors as on-line shopping grows ever more popular, reducing the number of mall shoppers. Read more here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/mall-traffic-still-problem […]

Turmoil in Jack in the Box, as franchisees call for a role in choosing a replacement for the CEO of the 2,240 unit chain. The turmoil comes as Jack in the Box has seen a decline in sales. Read more here: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/jack-box-franchisees-want-board-seat Advice for first-time entrepreneurs who want to open a […]

As the competition for labor intensifies in this booming economy, the quality of service at restaurants and other business is declining. Read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/how-do-you-know-the-economy-is-great-customer-service-is-terrible/2018/09/03/7b016998-a560-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html?utm_term=.30861383be2f Real Mex Restaurants, which filed for bankruptcy last month, is an example of an increasingly common phenomenon: struggling restaurant chains look to buy other struggling […]

More people are deciding to stay home and order food in as studies show food deliveries are up 10%, causing restaurants to change the way they do business. Read more here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-a-rise-in-food-deliveries-is-changing-the-restaurant-industry-and-what-is-served/ Ten years after the Great Recession, the restaurant business has changed in a number of ways – including […]

Quick serve, fast casual, casual and pizza restaurants all saw increases in same-store sales in the first quarter of 2018, according to this analysis. Read more here: https://www.fastcasual.com/blogs/the-counter-restaurant-industry-scorecard-for-q1-2018/ As millennials become parents, family-friendly chains and concepts are likely to benefit. Chick-fil-A and Cicis are among those that could emerge as […]

Efforts to achieve greater sustainability and reduce waste are being adopted at Dunkin’ Donuts, Red Lobster, Chipotle, and other eateries. Read more here: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2018/05/how-sustainability-trends-are-changing-way-restaurants-do-business Chick-fil-A restaurant in Sacramento moves to raise employee pay from $12 to $13 an hour to $17 to $18 an hour, with the aim, says the […]

Rising labor costs, changing millennial preferences are crippling restaurant chains like TGI Fridays, Applebee’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Chili’s. Those concepts appeal to baby boomers, according to the Business Insider, but for millennials…..not so much. Read more here: http://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-heading-for-crisis-2018-5 A shortage of teenage workers is hurting the fast food industry. […]